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Board of Directors

Anthony Puttergill

Chairman

Appointed to board: November 2006
Nominated as Chairman: January 2016
Years of service at Peermont and its predecessors: 17
Years of service on the Board: 9

Anthony qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA) and spent the early part of his career with KPMG in Johannesburg and London, where he focused on serving clients in the travel, leisure and tourism industries. After developing a keen interest in the gaming and hospitality industry, he established a specialised gaming industry practice within KPMG South Africa, where he served as managing consultant until being approached to join Global Resorts (Peermont’s predecessor company) in 1999.

Anthony joined Peermont’s predecessor as Commercial Director when the group was still in its start-up phase. His contribution to the strategic and operational management of the rapidly-growing group was recognised early on and he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Peermont Global in 2002, while also serving as the Group Financial Director.

In November 2006, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Peermont Global (Pty) Ltd which acquired control of the previously listed Peermont Global Limited group in April 2007. He continued to serve as CEO of the Peermont Group until December 2015. He has been instrumental in the formulation, funding, structuring and execution of various strategic initiatives, such as; the management-led institutional buy-out of the company in 2003, the listing of Peermont Global in 2004, the acquisition of the South African interests of Caesars South Africa Inc. in 2005, the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Tusk Group announced in December 2005, the US$ 1 billion buyout, delisting and reorganisation of Peermont in April 2007 and the successful recapitalisation of the group in 2014.

After indicating his desire to retire from an executive role and relocate to Cape Town (where he now resides) to spend more time with his family, he has at the request of the board and key shareholders agreed to do so in a phased manner. Accordingly, he currently serves as part-time executive chairman until 1 April 2016, whereafter he has been nominated to serve as non-executive Chairman.

Nigel Atherton

Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director

Mr. Atherton was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer for Emperors Palace in August 2006 after he rejoined the Group in July 2005 as Financial Manager at Emperors Palace after a brief period at Zenprop Property Holdings (Pty) Ltd where he was the Divisional Director for Finance and Operations. He has held various financial positions within Peermont since 1999. Mr Atherton was previously responsible for the Group’s flagship resort, Emperors Palace. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds a B Compt Honours Degree.

Grant Robinson

Group Financial Director and Executive Director

Mr. Robinson joined Peermont in October 2004 and was appointed to the Board of Directors, as Group Financial Director, in June 2006. He has been involved in the execution of a number of strategic initiatives since joining the Group. Examples of these are the acquisition of the South African interests of Caesars South Africa Inc. in March 2005, the acquisition the Tusk Group announced in December 2005 and the US$1 billion buyout, delisting and reorganisation of Peermont in April 2007. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Robinson was a Partner and Director of KPMG Inc. and KPMG Services (Proprietary) Limited, ultimately in the Information, Communication and Entertainment division. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Accounting Degrees from the University of Witwatersrand and is registered with South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Mary Bomela

Non-Executive Director

Ms Bomela joined the board in 2012. She joined the MIC on July 1, 2010 and previously served as a non-executive director from March 2008 to 2010. Before joining the MIC, Mary was the Chief Financial Officer at Freight Dynamics. Prior to this, she was an executive in the Corporate Services division of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mary also held executive positions in the resources, media, utilities and financial services sectors. She serves on the boards of a number of the MIC’s strategic investments. These include: Tracker Investment Holdings Ltd, Metrofile (Pty) Ltd, Set Point Technologies (Pty) Ltd, MSA Africa (Pty) Ltd, Eastvaal Motor Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Peermont Global (Pty) Ltd and Masana Petroleum Solutions (Pty) Ltd (alternate). She also serves as a non-executive director on the board of Rand Mutual Assurance Company Ltd and FirstRand Bank Ltd.

Nchaupe Khaole

Non-Executive Director

Joining the board is Nchaupe Khaole who currently serves as a Senior Investment Manager of Mineworker’s Investment Company. Nchaupe joined MIC in August 2012 and has in excess of 10 years’ experience within the financial services industry, the bulk of which have been in corporate finance and private equity. Before that, Nchaupe was a Senior Investment Officer at the Development Bank of Southern Africa and he has previously worked for Safika Holdings and Liberty Holdings Limited. Nchaupe’s qualifications include a BCom and BCom Honours (investment Management) degree from the University of Johannesburg and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) of the University of Pretoria.

Lorato Phalatse

Non-Executive Director

Lorato Phalatse began her working career in the corporate sector working for companies such as: Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Nedperm Bank. She also served as a senior civil servant in both the Provincial and National government ultimately heading up the Private Office of the President of South Africa. She has worked for community based organisations, co-founded the Womens Development Bank and also set up leading women-owned private equity company Nozala Investments. Lorato currently serves on various South African company boards including: Bidvest (as Chairman), Pick ‘n Pay (as Independant Non Executive Director), Nozala Holdings and Old Mutual’s Masisizane Board. In addition to her corporate boards Lorato also serves as a member of the Alexander Education Trust, The Buffelshoek Trust and is a Governor of Michaelhouse Boys School. Lorato holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science from the University of Leeds UK and an MA in Southern African Development Studies from the University of York UK.

Dr Chris Jardine

Non-Executive Director

Dr Chris Jardine is the CEO of Tsebo Catering Solutions and an Executive Director of Tsebo Outsourcing Group. Prior to this he was group CEO of the J and J Group, a diversified investment and management company. Chris has worked in the logistics, IT, telecommunications, industrial and financial services sectors. Besides his strong operational track record, he has also served on the boards of companies as diverse as MTN, Transnet, Macquarie First South and Union Carriage and Wagons. Chris holds a Ph.D. in Information Technology and BS and MS degrees in Computer Science, all from George Mason University in Virginia, USA.

Barry Hardy

Non-Executive Director

Barry Hardy has over 30 years’ experience in the international gaming industry in both operational and financial management roles. After some 18 years of involvement with London Clubs as Finance Director then Chief Operating Officer and most recently as Executive Deputy Chairman, he retired in December 2007. He has since acted as a consultant to the gaming and leisure industry and has advised on a number of casino transactions including that of the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. In 2010 he joined the board of Gala Coral (one of the UK ‘s largest Gaming Companies) as a Non Executive Director and sits on a number of Board Committees including the Audit Committee which he chairs. In 2012 he joined the Board of Regency Entertainment S.A. which owns casinos in Mont Parnes in Athens and in Thessalonika as Non Executive Chairman.

Pierre de Chillaz

Non-Executive Director

Pierre de Chillaz joined GoldenTree in 2007 based in London. He previously worked for Banc of America Securities in New York and London as an investment banking analyst covering the Technology, Media and Telecom sectors. Pierre earned his BA from Paris Dauphine University in Paris. Additionally, he has a Masters in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University in Boston, MA.